
For Canadians seeking residency abroad, the need for criminal record checks is mandatory for most applications. One critical component of this process is obtaining the correct type of Canadian criminal record check, which verifies your criminal history. However, most countries require additional steps to authenticate these documents, leading to the necessity of an apostille.
This article explores the importance of obtaining an apostilled Canadian criminal record check for foreign residency applications, detailing the steps involved, and provides tips for ensuring a smooth application process. Whether you are relocating for work, study, or family reasons, understanding this process is essential for successfully navigating international requirements.
How can you obtain your Canadian Criminal Record Check?
Before you proceed to order your criminal record check, you will need to determine what type of criminal record check is required in your situation. This can depend on where you are going, as well as the type of residency application. There are two distinct types of Canadian criminal record checks available, as outlined below.
- Name-based Criminal Record Check
This type of criminal record check is a name-based criminal record check. This is typically issued by a local police department or in some cases, by an online service. Your name and date of birth are cross-referenced with the RCMP database to see if there is a match. This type of criminal record check will not include your fingerprints.
If you are in Canada at the time of your application for a name-based criminal record check, you can apply through a local police department near you, apply through an online service, or use an accredited fingerprinting agency that is approved by the RCMP.
If you are located outside of Canada at the time of your application for a criminal record check, you can apply through an online service or use an accredited fingerprinting agency that is approved by the RCMP.
- RCMP Certified Criminal Record Check
This type of criminal record check is called an RCMP certified criminal record Check. The RCMP certified criminal record check will include your name and date of birth. However, this record check will include your fingerprints, which are also run through the RCMP database.
If you are in Canada at the time of your application for a criminal record check, you can apply through a local police department near you or use an accredited fingerprinting agency that is approved by the RCMP.
If you are located outside of Canada at the time of your application for a criminal record check, you can apply through an accredited fingerprinting agency that is approved by the RCMP.
What are the additional steps required once you obtain your criminal record check?
In most situations when you are using a Canadian criminal record check outside of Canada, it will require an apostille. An apostille is a type of document certification that confirms the authenticity of a document, so that the document will be officially recognized in other apostille signatory countries. Any country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention, including Canada, will issue apostille certificates and in turn, recognize apostille certificates issued by other countries.
If the country where you are headed is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents will require an additional step called “document legalization”. This last step of document legalization is completed at the embassy or consulate of the destination country. You can find more about document legalization from the helpful resources on our website – see our Canadian document legalization page.
A name-based criminal record check will require notarization by a Canadian Notary Public before it can be apostilled. Once notarized, it will need to be apostilled by the office that holds jurisdiction over where the Notary Public is located.
An RCMP certified criminal record check can be apostilled directly without any notarization by the federal apostille office, called Global Affairs Canada.
Who can apostille your Canadian criminal record check?
There are several different government organizations that are responsible for apostilles across Canada. Each function on a jurisdictional basis.
Global Affairs Canada is responsible for issuing apostilles for Canadian documents issued by certain federal government offices, such as the RCMP and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and documents originating from, or notarized in, the provinces of Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon.
Government offices in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Quebec are responsible for issuing apostilles for documents that originate from, or are notarized in, their jurisdictions.
How can we help with Canadian criminal record check apostilles?
Whether you are looking for more information, or you would like assistance with the apostille of your Canadian criminal record check, we can help. Supporting our clients to navigate the ins and outs of the process has been our business for over a decade. We would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your documents and answer your questions.
Call us toll free at 1-888-433-1011 or send us your questions through our quick Contact Us form. Our friendly staff will get back to you right away!